<p>fortify, neither do I.</p>
<p>The UCs aren’t impersonal if you don’t let them be. Most professors are really good about holding extra office hours, and, barring some class over-loads and therefore enrollment challenges, the vast majority of educational opportunities offered at Cal and UCLA are among the best you’ll find anywhere.</p>
<p>It sounds to me, from the list you made, that you like Cal and UCLA the best. You don’t like the East Coast weather, you want a lively atmosphere (which, after visiting all 3 of the schools you mention, I can assure you that Cal and UCLA have far more spirited atmospheres than Brown), and then of course cost (IMO, it is definitely not worth paying twice as much to go to Brown, when you’re so neutral about which one you like the most…if Brown was your dream school, that might be a different story).</p>
<p>So I would visit the schools, particularly Cal and UCLA, and then decide. After visiting both, most people have a clearer idea of what fits them best.</p>
<p>UCLA also has a very renowned environment program going, might want to check out this link: [UCLA</a> Institute of the Environment](<a href=“http://www.ioe.ucla.edu/]UCLA”>http://www.ioe.ucla.edu/)</p>
<p>RageKage: Actually, many of the environmental sciences/studies professors here are national experts in their area of expertise, and are called upon by the state and national government to brainstorm policy initiatives. I had several of them this year, and they were very, very good.</p>